· Esters are carboxylic acid derivatives where –OH is replaced with –OR, an alkoxy group.

o Esters use the suffix –oate or the prefix alkoxycarbonyl–.

o Common names for esters are derived from the alcohol and the carboxylic acid used during synthesis.

· Amides replace the hydroxyl group of a carboxylic acid with an amino group that may or may not be substituted.

o Amides use the suffix –amide or the prefix carbamoyl– or amido–. Substituents attached to the amide nitrogen are designated with a capital N–.

· Anhydrides are formed from two carboxylic acids by dehydration. They may be symmetric (two of the same acid), asymmetric (two different acids), or cyclic (intramolecular reaction of a dicarboxylic acid)

o Anhydrides are named using the suffix anhydride in place of acid. If the anhydride is formed from more than one carboxylic acid, both are named in alphabetical order in the name before the word anhydride.